Solomon Ajasa

Solomon Sesesie Ajasa is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at The University of Alabama, where he specializes in construction safety, fall hazard mitigation, heat stress, and post-disaster reconstruction. He earned a Higher National Diploma in Civil Engineering from Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria, and completed his Master's degree at The University of Alabama in 2023. From May 2024 to May 2025, Solomon served as President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA), leading advocacy for over 6,000 graduate students. Prior to that, he served as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (20232024), where he led initiatives to promote inclusion and equitable access across graduate programs. He also served on numerous university committees, including the Graduate Council, Campus Safety and Security Committee, and International Education Committee. As a leader in the International Peer Advisory Council (IPAC) from 2023 to 2025, Solomon facilitated mentorship and intercultural exchange among international and domestic students. He also served as an inaugural GAIN Influencer and Graduate Ambassador, roles through which he helped enhance the University's visibility and support for prospective graduate students, especially underrepresented and international populations. In addition to his leadership, Solomon has taught and mentored extensively. He served as Instructor of Record and Graduate Teaching Assistant for undergraduate and graduate courses, including Introduction to Construction Engineering and Safety Engineering and Management. His commitment to academic excellence and mentorship was recognized with the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award (2025). Solomon's research addresses occupational safety and health challenges using emerging technologies and data-driven solutions. As a Graduate Research Assistant since 2022, he has contributed to multiple OSHA and MSHA-funded projects, including training programs on heat stress, fall prevention, infectious disease control, and surface miner safety, which collectively have reached over 1,200 workers across the U.S. His scholarly work includes presentations at the CRC and i3CE conferences. In March 2025, Solomon was awarded The University of Alabama's highest graduate honor, the Graduate Student Premier Award, becoming the first international student to receive it. He is an active member of ASCE, NSBE, ASSP, CMAA, and the Graduate Student Council of NHERI, and is passionate about mentoring future engineers and scholars. Solomon regularly shares opportunities and guidance for graduate school applicants on LinkedIn and Twitter, and he lives by the Goldfish Theory: in the right environment, growth becomes inevitable.